New Knives Weekly Roundup – Kershaw, Kizer, Spyderco

We get so many new knives here at the KnifeCenter every week, it can be hard to keep up. So, starting today, we’re publishing a weekly roundup here on the blog to help cut through the chaos. We’ll be taking a look at a few of our favorite new products, every week! Today’s picks include a long-awaited Spyderco variant, eye-catching Kizer designs, an Integral titanium framelock with a surprising price tag, and a few new Kershaw folders. Let’s take a look.

Spyderco customers have been asking for an all-black Yojimbo 2 for as long as the design has existed, and this week, Spyderco delivered! It is really, truly blacked-out: everything but the edge is DLC-coated to reduce reflections, from the pocket clip to the liners. Designed by martial blade expert Michael Janich, the hollow-ground Wharncliffe blade of the Yojimbo 2 has the same cutting power at the tip as it does at the heel of the blade, for powerful slashing and piercing cuts.

Like many of Spyderco’s best designs, the Yojimbo 2 makes more sense to your hands than it does to your eyes. The ergonomics accommodate forward and reverse grips equally well, and the “dip” in the spine of the blade feels like a natural place to rest your thumb or forefinger when guiding the tip in a detailed cut. And, despite the tactical design inspiration, the Yojimbo 2 also makes an excellent utilitarian everyday carry knife. The perfectly straight edge is easy to control, and the tip has a high degree of precision.

Bladerunners Systems is best known for their Balisongs, but they’re branching out into conventional folders and fixed blades with their new E-Volve line. They’ve released a handful of designs so far, but the Eon is definitely their most ambitious design yet: an integral framelock designed by Elijah Isham. “Integral” construction means that the handle is milled from a single billet of material – in this case, titanium. There’s no need for fasteners to hold the knife together, which is why the handle of the Eon looks so clean.

Everything is well-executed here: the M390 blade is keenly ground, the sculpted titanium clip works well, and the ball-bearing flipper deployment is smooth and quick. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the Eon is its price: $289.99. Not cheap to be sure, but a bargain when compared to other top-shelf integral titanium folders on the market.

Whatever your preferred opening method, the Kizer Maestro has you covered: thumbstud, thumb hole, or flipper. Thanks to Kizer’s in-house design wizard Azo, the Maestro is formidable and fidget-friendly at the same time.

This design stands out to us because of its striking looks and well-executed details. The handle feels much less angular than it looks – broad chamfers help ease the ergonomics and the titanium scales have been milled inside and out to reduce the weight as much as possible. The S35VN blade has a little of that “pocket cleaver” vibe that’s been popular lately, but it’s still nice and pointy at the tip, unlike many of those other cleaver-esque designs. Overall, it’s a great folder if you want something big and bold that doesn’t compromise function for style.

The other new Kizer that caught our attention was this little fixed blade: the Harpoon, designed by James Buckley of Maverick Customs. Personally, I’m always drawn to knife designs that allow the entire edge to make contact with a cutting surface, like a kitchen knife. I could also see this working well as a skinning knife, with lots of belly for long slices and a relatively broad blade for holding in a pinch grip. Notice that concave spot on the spine of the blade? It’s perfectly positioned to cradle your thumb when you really need to bear down into a cut.

The layered Micarta handle is straight, simple, and short enough to make this a great option for everyday carry. A neatly molded kydex sheath comes set up for scout-style (horizontal) carry.

With 3.7 inches of D2 blade and solid copper handles, the Copper Natrix XL is thicc with two Cs, phat with a P-H, and chonky – yes, that’s chonky with an O. This pocketknife weighs in at 8.6 ounces – heavy metal, indeed. If you like a substantial knife, the Natrix XL Copper definitely has plenty to offer: cracking manual flipper deployment, a sturdy Sub-Frame lock, and an attractive, highly refined design.

The new Copper Leek, on the other hand, is only an ounce heavier than the standard Leek. It’s a reassuring heft, and the satin-finished copper scales should take on a lovely & unique patina over time. There’s just something about the Leek’s sleek design, snappy SpeedSafe-assisted opening, and ultra-pointy 14C28N blade – truly a modern classic.

The Camshaft looks to be another good value folder from Kershaw. For just over $20, you get a useful 3-inch clip-point blade, deep carry pocket clip, SpeedSafe assisted flipper opening, and grippy GFN scales. Even Kershaw’s most affordable knives have a stylish design, and the Camshaft is no exception.

The Kershaw Believer, with its 3.25-inches of blade, is a little bit bigger than the Camshaft. A little sturdier too, thanks to a frame lock. There are nice high-end touches here that belie the Believer’s budget price, like the custom-looking pivot hardware and lockbar overtravel stop. Thankfully, the custom hardware is just for style – it still accepts standard Torx bits should you need to adjust something yourself.

The design of the Comeback is subtle, clean, and still unique. Aside from the Copper Natrix XL, this is the only manual-action knife on this list – a KVT ball-bearing flipper. The pocket clip is mounted on a spacer, which gives the Comeback a classy look in your pocket, and is reversible for left- or right-hand carry.

Next Week: More New Knives!

We hope you enjoyed this new knives roundup, and we’d love to hear your feedback as we head into next week. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – what knives caught your eye this week?

After surviving a career in the music industry, Seth co-founded KnifeNews.com in 2015 to share his lifelong passion for knives with other enthusiasts online. There, his incisive coverage of knives, knife makers, and the knife industry caught the attention of the KnifeCenter, who recruited him to join their team in 2019. These days, in addition to his work here on the blog, he runs the KnifeCenter’s social media channels, where he is always happy to answer your cutlery questions.